Samsung reveals its pre-iPhone concepts: 10 touchscreen devices
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 30th Jul 2012 19:38 UTC, submitted by tupp
PDAs, Cellphones, Wireless It might be a cliche, but sometimes, a picture says more than a thousand words. Over the years, I've often talked about how the technology world is iterative, about how products are virtually always built upon that which came before, about how almost always, multiple people independently arrive at the same products since they work within the same constraints of the current state of technology. This elementary aspect of the technology world, which some would rather forget, has been illustrated very, very well in one of Samsung's legal filings against Apple.
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Alfman
Member since:
2011-01-28

Sabon,

"Just because it is not particularly good for you doesn't mean it isn't great, for the things I stated, for other people."

Again, we all know that you CAN do alot on these tablets, but the question is whether it enhances productivity/creativity or imposes a burden.

You brought up the spreadsheet example. Do you think a tablet spreadsheet app is as great as a desktop spreadsheet for entering data, copying data from other sources, and manipulating formulas? Of course not, textual data entry is a sore point for touch interfaces. You can mitigate some of the limitations with laptop accessories, but that's an implicit acknowledgement that a laptop design is better for some tasks.


You also brought up web development...Absolutely unthinkable without a laptopesque keyboard. The inability to view multiple windows for control panels and user pages and code simultaneously is a sure set back. Looking up information/emails and copying code/HTML is awkward on a tablet. Viewing pages in various resolutions is difficult without windows. Selecting/transferring files is faster on a desktop. Running background tasks/monitoring logs while simultaneously hitting a page is impossible with a single window tablet UI. I don't even know if the tablet can run network traces without cheating and opening a session to a "real computer" to do the work. Sure it's *possible* to webdev from a tablet, it's just not ideal. If you do it, don't be surprised when your efficiency goes into the toilet.

"Take the typewriter for instance. A LOT of great movies and books were created on a typewriter. I'm guessing you would not think it would be a good device for creating these."

What's that got to do with anything? Unless they were a raving Underwood fanboy or lacked electricity, said person wouldn't use a one over a computer today.


A tablet is great at some things, not great at others. It's a simple plain truth.

Reply Parent Score: 2

Sabon Member since:
2005-07-06

You brought up the spreadsheet example. Do you think a tablet spreadsheet app is as great as a desktop spreadsheet for entering data, copying data from other sources, and manipulating formulas? Of course not, textual data entry is a sore point for touch interfaces. You can mitigate some of the limitations with laptop accessories, but that's an implicit acknowledgement that a laptop design is better for some tasks.


First of all, have you read __anything__, actually read anything I've typed so far? If yes, you will see that I say that I have an iPad and a bluetooth keyboard.

HP now has a touch desktop computer where you can work on your desktop computer with a mouse and keyboard but just using your fingers on the screen. Even with the larger screen you need a keyboard and mouse on a computer. With an iPad, working with spreadsheets, you only need to add a keyboard.

I will ONLY admit that laptops can be better for some things if you admit that iPads can be better at creating things than a laptop. I said createing things, not consuming things.

I will admit that working in spreadsheets of any size entering numbers or letters requires not only a keyboard but a keyboard with a number pad (note that I have one of these that is also bluetooth and looks like Apple made it but it was made by a third party company and works very well with my iPad.).

Sometimes a laptop would work better. MORE often, most often, for ME, having a laptop would be a waist as it is heavier and cumbersome and feels like using a typewriter now after using my iPad with Apple bluetooth keyboard and 3rd party bluetooth number pad.

Reply Parent Score: 2

Alfman Member since:
2011-01-28

Sabon,

"First of all, have you read __anything__, actually read anything I've typed so far? If yes, you will see that I say that I have an iPad and a bluetooth keyboard."

Yes, actually, it's what I meant by "that's an implicit acknowledgement that a laptop design is better for some tasks."


"I will ONLY admit that laptops can be better for some things if you admit that iPads can be better at creating things than a laptop. I said createing things, not consuming things."

Um...ok, although I never said otherwise. I just think your examples of web development and spreadsheets are terrible illustrations of a tablet's superior creative potential.


"Sometimes a laptop would work better. MORE often, most often, for ME, having a laptop would be a waist as it is heavier and cumbersome and feels like using a typewriter now after using my iPad with Apple bluetooth keyboard and 3rd party bluetooth number pad."


Alfman: "...We weigh the pros and cons between a number of competing factors: cost/portability/power/screens/data entry/interaction efficiency/etc. If the tablet adds up, then great!"

I'm going to assume that we are in agreement then.


I think we might both benefit from a light tablet/laptop combo, since for both of us - touch screens are not enough.

Reply Parent Score: 2

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